Signaling through MAP kinase networks in plants

Protein phosphorylation is the most important mechanism for controlling many fundamental cellular processes in all living organisms including plants. A specific class of serine/threonine protein kinases, the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) play a central role in the transduction of various extra- and intracellular signals and are conserved throughout eukaryotes. These generally function via a cascade of networks, where MAP kinase (MAPK) is phosphorylated and activated by MAPK kinase (MAPKK), which itself is activated by MAPKK kinase (MAPKKK). Signaling through MAP kinase cascade can lead to cellular responses including cell division, differentiation as well as response to various stresses. In plants, MAP kinases are represented by multigene families and are organized into a complex network for efficient transmission of specific stimuli. Putative plant MAP kinase cascades have been postulated based on experimental analysis of in vitro interactions between specific MAP kinase components. These cascades have been tested in planta following expression of epitope-tagged kinases in protoplasts. It is known that signaling for cell division and stress responses in plants are mediated through MAP kinases and even auxin, ABA and possibly ethylene and cytokinin also utilize a MAP kinase pathway. Most of the biotic (pathogens and pathogen-derived elicitors) including wounding and abiotic stresses (salinity, cold, drought, and oxidative) can induce defense responses in plants through MAP kinase pathways. In this article we have covered the historical background, biochemical assay, activation/inactivation, and targets of MAP kinases with emphasis on plant MAP kinases and the responses regulated by them. The cross-talk between plant MAP kinases is also discussed to bring out the complexity within this three-component module.     

Defective regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in a 3T3 cell variant mitogenically nonresponsive to tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase which is activated in response to various mitogenic agonists (e.g., epidermal growth factor, insulin, and the tumor promoter tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate [TPA]) and requires both threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation for activity. This enzyme has recently been shown to be identical or closely related to pp42, a protein which becomes tyrosine phosphorylated in response to mitogenic stimulation. Neither the kinases which regulate MAP kinase/pp42 nor the in vivo substrates for this enzyme are known. Because MAP MAP kinase is activated and phosphorylated in response both to agents which stimulate tyrosine kinase receptors and to agents which stimulate protein kinase C, a serine/threonine kinase, we have examined the regulation and phosphorylation of this enzyme in 3T3-TNR9 cells, a variant cell line partially defective in protein kinase C-mediated signalling. In this communication, we show that in the 3T3-TNR9 variant cell line, TPA does not cause the characteristically rapid phosphorylation of pp42 or the activation and phosphorylation of MAP kinase. This defective response is not due to the absence of the MAP kinase/pp42 protein itself because both tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase/pp42 and its enzymatic activation could be induced by platelet-derived growth factor in the 3T3-TNR9 cells. Thus, the defect in these variant cells apparently resides in some aspect of the regulation of MAP kinase phosphorylation. Since the 3T3-TNR9 cells are also defective with respect to the TPA-induced increase in ribosomal protein S6 kinase, these in vivo results reinforce the earlier in vitro finding that MAP kinase can regulate S6 kinase activity. These findings suggest a key role for MAP kinase in a kinase cascade cascade involved in the control of cell proliferation.     

Evidence for the activation of a MAP kinase upon phosphate‐induced cell cycle re‐entry in tobacco cells

Mitogen‐activated‐protein (MAP) kinases are components of signal transduction pathways which respond to a variety of stimuli in different organisms. In quiescent mammalian cells, the reactivation of cell division induced by different mitogenic signals is mediated by the rapid phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinases. We have investigated whether a similar situation occurs in plants, arresting tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) cells in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle by phosphate starvation, and then inducing them to re‐enter the cell cycle by refeeding with phosphate. The transient activation of a kinase activity with the characteristics of a MAP kinase was observed during the first hour after refeeding, when the cells were still in G₁. Using myelin basic protein (MBP) as substrate, an increase in this phosphorylating activity, with a molecular mass of approximately 45 kDa, was detected in cell extracts between 35 and 55 min after induction, in in‐gel phosphorylation assays and after immunoprecipitation with anti‐MAP kinase antibodies. The specificity of the antibodies against recombinant tobacco MAP kinases suggested that the MAP kinase p45^ntf4 was responsible for the observed activity. These data provide experimental evidence for the activation in vivo of a plant MAP kinase, possibly mediating the reactivation of cell division in G₁‐arrested cells.     

Characterization of two cDNAs that encode MAP kinase homologues in Arabidopsis thaliana and analysis of the possible role of auxin in activating such kinase activities in cultured cells

Two cDNA clones, cATMPK1 and CATMPK2, encoding MAP kinases (mitogen-activated protein kinases) have been cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana and their nucleotide sequences have been determined. Putative proteins encoded by ATMPK1 and ATMPK2 genes, designated ATMPK1 and ATMPK2, contain 370 and 376 amino acid residues, respectively, and are 88.7% identical at the amino acid sequence level. ATMPK1 and ATMPK2 exhibit significant similarity to rat ERK2 (49%) and Xenopus MAP kinase (50%). The amino acid residues corresponding to the sites of phosphorylation (Thr-Glu-Tyr) that are involved in the activation of MAP kinases are conserved in ATMPK1 and ATMPK2. Northern blot analysis indicates that the ATMPK1 and ATMPK2 mRNAs are significantly present in all the organs except seeds. Genomic Southern blot analysis suggests that there are a few additional genes that are related to ATMPK1 and ATMPK2 in the Arabidopsis genome. Purified Xenopus MAP kinase kinase (MAPK kinase) phosphorylates ATMPK1 and ATMPK2 proteins that have been expressed in Escherichia coli, activating these enzymes. A rapid and transient activation of 46-kDa protein kinase activity that phosphorylated myelin basic protein (MBP) was detected when auxinstarved tobacco BY-2 cells were treated with synthetic auxin, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Protein kinase activities which phosphorylated the recombinant ATMPK2 protein also increased rapidly after auxin treatment in the auxin-starved BY-2 cells. These results suggest that auxin may function as an activator of plant MAP kinase homologues, as do various mitogens in animal systems.     

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and its activator by ras in intact cells and in a cell-free system.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is a serine/threonine kinase whose function is thought to be essential for the transduction of mitogenic signals. MAP kinase is activated by phosphorylation induced by a variety of extracellular stimuli, and its direct upstream activator has been identified. Using amphibian and mammalian systems, we show here that ras can activate MAP kinase and its activator. Injection of v-Ha-ras p21 into Xenopus immature oocytes activated both MAP kinase and maturation-promoting factor (MPF) activities. The activation of MAP kinase preceded that of MPF, demonstrating that ras activates MAP kinase in an MPF-independent pathway. Moreover, we found that the MAP kinase activator is also activated in ras-injected oocytes. Activation of MAP kinase and its activator occurred also when the v-Ki-ras gene was conditionally induced in rat fibroblastic 3Y1 cells. Furthermore, we observed that ras activated MAP kinase and its activator in a cell-free system prepared from Xenopus oocytes. Using an antibody against the Xenopus 45-kDa MAP kinase activator, we demonstrated that the 45-kDa activator molecule was activated by ras. These findings suggest that the MAP kinase activator/MAP kinase system may be the downstream components of ras signal transduction pathways.     

Growth factors induce nuclear translocation of MAP kinases (p42mapk and p44mapk) but not of their activator MAP kinase kinase (p45mapkk) in fibroblasts

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (p42mapk and p44mapk) are serine/threonine kinases that are activated rapidly in cells stimulated with various extracellular signals. This activation is mediated via MAP kinase kinase (p45mapkk), a dual specificity kinase which phosphorylates two key regulatory threonine and tyrosine residues of MAP kinases. We reported previously that the persistent phase of MAP kinase activation is essential for mitogenically stimulated cells to pass the "restriction point" of the cell cycle. Here, using specific polyclonal antibodies and transfection of epitope-tagged recombinant MAP kinases we demonstrate that these signaling protein kinases undergo distinct spatio-temporal localization in growth factor-stimulated cells. In G0-arrested hamster fibroblasts the activator p45mapkk and MAP kinases (p42mapk, p44mapk) are mainly cytoplasmic. Subsequent to mitogenic stimulation by serum or alpha-thrombin both MAP kinase isoforms translocate into the nucleus. This translocation is rapid (seen in 15 min), persistent (at least during the entire G1 period up to 6 h), reversible (by removal of the mitogenic stimulus) and apparently 'coupled' to the mitogenic potential; it does not occur in response to nonmitogenic agents such as alpha-thrombin-receptor synthetic peptides and phorbol esters that fail to activate MAP kinases persistently. When p42mapk and p44mapk are expressed stably at high levels, they are found in the nucleus of resting cells; this nuclear localization is also apparent with kinase-deficient mutants (p44mapk T192A or Y194F). In marked contrast the p45mapkk activator remains cytoplasmic even during prolonged growth factor stimulation and even after high expression levels achieved by transfection. We propose that the rapid and persistent nuclear transfer of p42mapk and p44mapk during the entire G0-G1 period is crucial for the function of these kinases in mediating the growth response.     

The p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation triggers p27Kip1 degradation independently of CDK2/cyclin E in NIH 3T3 cells.

The p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is stimulated by various mitogenic stimuli, and its sustained activation is necessary for cell cycle G(1) progression and G(1)/S transition. G(1) progression and G(1)/S transition also depend on sequential cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activation. Here, we demonstrate that MAP kinase inhibition leads to accumulation of the CDK inhibitor p27(Kip1) in NIH 3T3 cells. Blocking the proteasome-dependent degradation of p27(Kip1) impaired this accumulation, suggesting that MAP kinase does not act on p27(Kip1) protein synthesis. In the absence of extracellular signals (growth factors or cell adhesion), genetic activation of MAP kinase decreased the expression of p27(Kip1) as assessed by cotransfection experiments and by immunofluorescence detection. Importantly, MAP kinase activation also decreased the expression of a p27(Kip1) mutant, which cannot be phosphorylated by CDK2, suggesting that MAP kinase-dependent p27(Kip1) regulation is CDK2-independent. Accordingly, expression of dominant-negative CDK2 did not impair the down-regulation of p27(Kip1) induced by MAP kinase activation. These data demonstrate that the MAP kinase pathway regulates p27(Kip1) expression in fibroblasts essentially through a degradation mechanism, independently of p27(Kip1) phosphorylation by CDK2. This strengthens the role of this CDK inhibitor as a key effector of G(1) growth arrest, whose expression can be controlled by extracellular stimuli-dependent signaling pathways.     

Questioning the role of salicylic acid and cytosolic acidification in mitogen-activated protein kinase activation induced by cryptogein in tobacco cells

Elicitors of plant defence reactions, oligogalacturonides and cryptogein, an elicitin produced by Phytophthora cryptogea, were previously shown to induce a rapid and transient activation of two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in cells of tobacco [ Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi; A. Lebrun-Garcia et al. (1998) Plant J 15:773-781]. We verified that these two MAPKs correspond to the salicylic acid-induced protein kinase (SIPK) and the wound-induced protein kinase (WIPK). The involvement of salicylic acid (SA) in cryptogein-induced MAPK activation was investigated using transgenic NahG tobacco cells expressing the salicylate hydroxylase gene and thus unable to accumulate SA. The large and sustained activation of both MAPKs by cryptogein was maintained in transgenic cells compared with non-transgenic tobacco cells. Moreover, weak acids, namely SA, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, an ineffective analogue of SA in plant resistance, and butyric acid acidified the cytosol, a physiological event also induced by cryptogein, but activated both MAPKs only slightly and transiently in tobacco cells. These results indicate that MAPK activation by cryptogein is not mediated by SA, that cytosolic acidification can be transduced by MAPKs, and that in cryptogein-treated cells, cytosolic acidification should contribute poorly to MAPK activation.     

Characterization of a mitogen-activated, Ca2+-sensitive microtubule-associated protein-2 kinase

We have previously found that treatment of quiescent mammalian fibroblast cells with several mitogenic factors activates in common a Ca2+-sensitive serine/threonine-specific protein kinase activity toward microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) [Hoshi, M., Nishida, E. and Sakai, H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 5396-5401]. Here, we characterized the mitogen-activated MAP2 kinase activity in rat 3Y1 cells. The activated kinase activity was detected in the cytosolic fraction but not in the membrane fraction. The inhibitory effect of Ca2+ on the kinase activity was reversible. Kinetic analyses revealed that the apparent Km values of the kinase activity for MAP2 and ATP were 1.6 microM and 30 microM, respectively. Free Ca2+ at 4 microM decreased apparent Vmax values for MAP2 and ATP without changing the apparent Km values. The MAP2 kinase had an apparent molecular mass of about 40 kDa as determined by gel filtration and by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Myelin basic protein as well as MAP2 could serve as good substrates for this kinase, but 40S ribosomal protein S6, casein, histone, phosphorylase b, protamine, tubulin, actin and tau could not. These properties of the enzyme indicate that the Ca2+-sensitive MAP2 kinase may be a previously unidentified enzyme. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged phorbol ester treatment abolished the MAP2 kinase activation by phorbol ester, but did not prevent the MAP2 kinase activation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) or fresh serum. This suggests that the Ca2+-sensitive MAP2 kinase could be activated through protein-kinase-C-dependent and -independent pathways. Activation of the MAP2 kinase occurred shortly after the addition of EGF or phorbol ester even in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors (cycloheximide, puromycin and emetin). Moreover, treatment of the EGF- or phorbol-ester-activated MAP2 kinase with acid phosphatase inactivated the kinase activity. Thus, the MAP2 kinase may be activated through phosphorylation.     

Mechanisms of inhibition by heparin of PDGF stimulated MAP kinase activation in vascular smooth muscle cells

Heparin and heparan are potent inhibitors of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. To investigate the mechanisms by which heparin suppresses growth factor stimulated mitogenesis, the present experiments investigated the effects of heparin on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulated signal transduction pathways. Heparin treatment substantially inhibited PDGF-BB stimulated rat VSMC growth. Western analysis showed a 30 min PDGF-BB treatment of VSMC induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple protein bands; cotreatment with heparin inhibited mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase tyrosine phosphorylation but had little effect on PDGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. In-gel kinase assays demonstrated that heparin inhibited PDGF-BB stimulated MAP kinase activity at late (25 min) but not early (10 min) time points. These data indicate that heparin does not inhibit the initial signalling events after PDGF-BB binding but instead acts through an alternate mechanism to inhibit MAP kinase. To investigate if heparin directly stimulates tyrosine phosphatase-mediated suppression of MAP kinase, we treated VSMC with orthovanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. Heparin inhibited MAP kinase tyrosine phosphorylation after orthovanadate treatment, indicating that heparin does not suppress MAP kinase by enlistment of a tyrosine phosphatase. Experiments were performed to investigate signalling pathways upstream of MAP kinase. To determine if protein kinase C (PKC) mediates PDGF-BB, serum, and EGF stimulation of MAP kinase, we treated VSMC overnight with phorbol ester (PMA) to downregulate PKC. Abolition of conventional and novel PKC activity significantly suppressed both serum and PDGF-BB induced MAP kinase activation, indicating protein kinase C is an important mediator for these mitogens. In contrast, downregulation of these PKC isoforms had little effect on EGF stimulation of MAP kinase. As heparin inhibits PDGF and serum but not EGF stimulation of MAP kinase, these data precisely correlate heparin inhibition of MAP kinase with activation through PKC-dependent pathways. Immunoprecipitation analysis found that heparin inhibited serum, PMA, and PDGF but not EGF induced raf-1 phosphorylation. These studies demonstrate that heparin did not block PDGF-BB receptor activation, which initiates the mitogenic signalling cascade. Heparin did inhibit specific postreceptor second messenger signals, such as the late phase activation of MAP kinase, which may be mediated by suppression of PKC-dependent pathways. J. Cell. Physiol. 172:69–78, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Nuclear activation and translocation of mitogen-activated protein kinases modulated by ethanol in embryonic liver cells

Activation and nuclear translocation of mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases in ethanol-treated embryonic liver cells (BNLCL2) was investigated. The relative amount of MAPK proteins, MAP kinase activity and MAPK/LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) ratios were determined in nuclear and cytosolic fractions before and after serum stimulation. In ethanol-treated cells, serum-stimulated MAPK activation was potentiated in both cytosolic and nuclear fractions. Levels of both the p42 and p44 MAPK proteins increased in nuclear fractions from cells treated with ethanol alone for 24 h. Serum-stimulated nuclear translocation of both p42 and p44 MAPK was potentiated in ethanol-treated cells. Nuclear fractions from ethanol-treated cells had a modest increase in MAP kinase activity concurrent with the increased MAPK protein levels. The ratio of MAPK/LDH increased in nuclear fractions with increasing concentrations of ethanol and after serum stimulation. This further confirmed the nuclear translocation of MAPK and also demonstrated that it is not a non-specific effect of ethanol. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that in BNLCL2 liver cells ethanol treatment has dual effects. First, ethanol triggered nuclear translocation of MAPK without causing its activation. Second, it potentiated serum-stimulated activation and translocation of MAPK in the nucleus. These findings provide a novel mechanism through which ethanol may affect cellular and nuclear processes in liver cells.     

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in BC3H1 myocytes by fluoroaluminate.

Treatment of BC3H1 myocytes or 3T3-L1 fibroblasts with fluoroaluminate (AlF4-), a direct activator of G proteins, increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa cytosolic protein. AlF4- induced a parallel increase in protein kinase activity toward myelin basic protein (MBP) in partially purified cell extracts. To test whether AlF4- was activating the 42-kDa MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase, extracts from AlF4--treated cells were taken through the chromatographic steps routinely used to purify MAP kinase from growth factor-stimulated cells. Following phenyl-Superose chromatography, a peak of MBP kinase activity eluted at a position characteristic of MAP kinase. Immunoblotting of the active fractions with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies revealed a single reactive protein band of Mr 42,000. Stimulation of MAP kinase by AlF4- was rapid, peaking within 15 min and persisting for at least 1 h. In contrast, the activation of MAP kinase by insulin was transient, characteristic of its activation by growth factors in other cell types. Although concentrations of sodium fluoride greater than 1 mM also activated MAP kinase, this effect was shown to be dependent upon the simultaneous presence of aluminum ions in the medium. Activation of MAP kinase by AlF4- was not affected by either cellular depletion of protein kinase C or pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin. Potential sites of action of AlF4- are discussed. These findings suggest that activation of a G protein(s) in intact cells can initiate events that result in tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinase.     

Mitogenic and non-mitogenic ligands trigger a calcium-dependent cytosolic acidification in human T lymphocytes

We have investigated the patterns of cytosolic pH and Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) changes after exposure of human peripheral blood T cells to different mitogenic and non-mitogenic ligands. Using ligands that have different accessory cell requirements and varying effect on [Ca2+]i or cell proliferation, we observed that intracellular acidification occurred only with agents that increased [Ca2+]i. However, treatment of the cells with the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, results in significant cytosolic alkalinization without detectable acidification, but did not affect the proliferative responses to mitogenic ligands and was a potent co-mitogen with non-mitogenic ligands. These data indicate that initial acidification or alkalinization responses are not essential for early activation or triggering of DNA synthesis.     

Auxin induces mitogenic activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in roots of Arabidopsis seedlings

Genome analyses have shown that plants contain gene families encoding various components of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Previous reports have described the involvement of MAPK pathways in stress and pathogen responses of leaves and suspension-cultured cells. Here we show that auxin treatment of Arabidopsis roots transiently induced increases in protein kinase activity with characteristics of mammalian ERK-like MAPKs. The MAPK response we monitored was the result of hormonal action of biologically active auxin, rather than a stress response provoked by auxin-like compounds. Auxin-induced MAPK pathway signaling was distinguished genetically in the Arabidopsis auxin response mutant axr4, in which MAPK activation by auxin, but not by salt stress, was significantly impaired. Perturbation of MAPK signaling in roots using inhibitors of a mammalian MAPKK blocked auxin-activated transgene expression in BA3-GUS seedlings, while potentiating higher than normal levels of MAPK activation in response to auxin. Data presented here indicate that MAPK pathway signaling is positively involved in auxin response, and further suggest that interactions among MAPK signaling pathways in plants influence plant responses to auxin.     

Signal convergence through the lenses of MAP kinases: paradigms of stress and hormone signaling in plants

Common mechanisms plants use to translate the external stimuli into cellular responses are the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. These MAPK cascades are highly conserved in eukaryotes and consist of three subsequently acting protein kinases, MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK) and MAP kinase (MAPK) which are linked in various ways with upstream receptors and downstream targets. Plant MAPK cascades regulate numerous processes, including various environmental stresses, hormones, cell division and developmental processes. The number of MAPKKs in Arabidopsis and rice is almost half the number of MAPKs pointing important role of MAPKKs in integrating signals from several MAPKKKs and transducing signals to various MAPKs. The cross talks between different signal transduction pathways are concentrated at the level of MAPKK in the MAPK cascade. Here we discussed the insights into MAPKK mediated response to environmental stresses and in plant growth and development.     

Role of interleukin (IL)-2 receptor beta-chain subdomains and Shc in p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and p54 MAP kinase (stress-activated protein Kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase) activation. IL-2-driven proliferation is independent of p38 and p54 MAP kinase activation

We have shown recently that interleukin (IL)-2 activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family members p38 (HOG1/stress-activated protein kinase II) and p54 (c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase I). Furthermore, the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 inhibited IL-2-driven T cell proliferation, suggesting that p38 MAP kinase might be involved in mediating proliferative signals. In this study, using transfected BA/F3 cell lines, it is shown that both the acidic domain and the membrane-proximal serine-rich region of the IL-2Rbeta chain are required for p38 and p54 MAP kinase activation and that, as for p42/44 MAP kinase, this activation requires the Tyr338 residue of the acidic domain, the binding site for Shc. It is well established that the acidic domain of the IL-2Rbeta chain is dispensable for IL-2-driven proliferation, and thus our observations suggest that neither p38 nor p54 MAP kinase activation is required for IL-2-driven proliferation of BA/F3 cells. In addition, the tetravalent guanylhydrazone inhibitor of proinflammatory cytokine production, CNI-1493, can block the activation of p54 and p38 MAP kinases by IL-2 but has no effect on IL-2-driven proliferation of BA/F3 cells, activated primary T cells, or a cytotoxic T cell line. Furthermore, our observations provide evidence for the existence of an additional, unknown target of the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580, the activation of which is essential for mitogenic signaling by IL-2.